Is ‘winter’ finally due to arrive?

January last year ... temperatures are forecast to drop and we could even see snow or sleet by the middle of next week.

Published:07:50Thursday 07 January 2016

Is it finally time to dig out the woolly hats, scarves and gloves in the North West as traditional winter temperatures look set to make their long-awaited arrival next week?

The Daily Mirror has promised Arctic blasts with “plunging temperatures turning roads into lethal ice rinks and snow falling on flooded ground” ... but, according to the Met Office, the North West may have to brace itself for morning frosts, the odd flurry of snow or sleet by the middle of next week and daytime temperatures of 3C (although the wind-chill factor could make it feel colder).

While the hardy Highlanders in Scotland may be tackling 2ft of snow and temperatures of -10C, the saturated North West can expected still more in the way of rain unfortunately.

A yellow weather warning is in place for heavy downpours this morning and a wet weekend is predicted.

Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge confirmed the drop in temperatures to more like a winter norm, saying: “It is going to feel quite cold with strong winds associated with the new front which moves slowly across the country.”

The prediction of wintry conditions comes as official figures confirm that last month was the wettest and mildest December on record, as well as the wettest month in history.

Average temperatures of 7.9C beat 1934’s high of 6.9C, while 50 inches (1,289mm) of rain secured the unwanted honour of wettest December on record.